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Species: Dermatolepis inermis, Marbled grouper

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body deep, very compressed
forehead oblique
D XI, 18-20, interspine membranes slightly indente
dark + pale mottling/spots
C straight
pectorals > > pelvics
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This Species (9) This Genus (1) Similar Species (5)

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Dermatolepis inermis (Valenciennes, 1833)

Marbled grouper

Body relatively deep (deepest at origin of dorsal fin), and compressed; snout much longer than eye; forehead profile steep, rising obliquely to high back; rear nostrils 2-3 times larger than front nostrils; rear of top jaw exposed when mouth closed; teeth depressible; preopercle finely serrated; gill rakers 21-24; dorsal rays XI, 18-20, 3rd or 4th spine longest, membranes only slightly notched between spines; anal rays III, 8-10, rear margin concave in adults; pectoral rounded, distinctly longer than pelvics, 18-19 rays; tail fin with straight edge in adult, rounded in juvenile; scales smooth.

Adult: yellowish brown with many small dark brown spots on head, body and fins, pale mottling on head and body. Juvenile: dark brown to black, with irregular scattered white mottling on head and body.

Size: grows to 91 cm.

Inhabits reefs.

Depth: 3-315 m, usually in ledges and caves around 200 m.

North Carolina to southern Brazil.

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Species Data Create Report Export as Word File Export as Excel File
Salinity
  • Marine
  • Marine Only
Inshore/Offshore
  • Inshore Only
  • Inshore
Water Column Position
  • Bottom
Habitat
  • Reef (rock/coral/oyster)
  • Reef associated (reef + edges-water column & soft bottom)
  • Reef only
  • Corals
FishBase Habitat
  • Reef Associated
Feeding Group
  • Carnivore
  • Data
Diet
  • Bony fishes
  • Data
  • Mobile benthic crustacea (shrimps/crabs)
Egg Type
  • Data
  • Pelagic
  • Pelagic larva
Global Endemism
  • West Atlantic Endemic
  • Greater Caribbean non-endemic
  • All species.
Regional Endemism
  • Extends South of GC
  • Island (s)
  • Extends N + S of GC
  • All species..
  • GC non-endemic
  • Also in Brazil
  • Continent
  • Extends North of GC
  • Continent + Island (s)
Residency
  • Resident
Climate Zone
  • Subtropical (23-35N, Florida / Carolinas / Bermuda)
  • Equatorial (0-10N, Costa Rica / Venezuela)
  • Tropical (10-23N, Nicaragua / Cuba)
IUCN Red List
  • Listed
  • Data deficient
CITES
  • Not listed
Length Max
  • 91
Depth Range Min
  • 3
Depth Range Max
  • 315